Few in GOP Step Forward For N.J. Senate Race

Gov. Christie Names Chiesa as Interim Senator to Fill Lautenberg Seat

By

Lisa Fleisher and

Heather Haddon

June 6, 2013 10:15 p.m. ET

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's decision to appoint an interim senator to replace Frank Lautenberg on Thursday left Republicans searching for a standard-bearer for Senate against what will likely be a formidable Democratic candidate.

ENLARGE

Jeff Chiesa
Associated Press

With a Monday deadline to get on the ballot for the Aug. 13 primary, the only Republican to step forward by late Thursday was Steve Lonegan, a tea-party conservative who has had little support in the state's Republican establishment. The general special election will be Oct. 16.

Mr. Christie's Senate appointee, state Attorney General Jeff Chiesa, said he wouldn't run. Other Republicans—congressmen, state senators, assembly members—were like Rep. Leonard Lance: focused on their current jobs and not interested.

"It can be a difficult process if you don't have an organization to get out there in a short period of time," said Todd Mitchell, Mr. Lance's chief of staff, speaking of other Republicans. "It's a much smaller window to run."

Meanwhile, the Democratic side of the ballot was filling with well-known contenders. Rep. Rush Holt, a rocket scientist who has served eight terms in Congress, said Thursday he would run, and he would likely face Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone.

"It's telling that Republicans are not falling over themselves to go for this nomination while Democrats are," said Patrick Murray of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

More

Mr. Christie said Thursday he had long known he might be in a position to nominate a replacement to the ailing Mr. Lautenberg, a Democrat who died Monday. Political analysts said his choice of an election different than the regular one on Nov. 5 was seen as helping his own agenda of running up a big re-election victory. Mr. Christie won't have a popular Democrat on the same ballot to drive liberal turnout. In turn, a Republican Senate candidate won't benefit from Mr. Christie's election coattails.

He could have set the election for November 2014 with a Republican incumbent but said it would have set the contest too far into the future.

"At the end of the day it was the best choice for Chris Christie," said Matthew Hale, a professor of political science at Seton Hall University. "He made a choice he can defend."

Any Republican would have an uphill battle in a regular election in New Jersey, where voters haven't sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate in more than 40 years. Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 700,000, although unaffiliated voters have a bigger share than both. President Barack Obama won the state by 18 points last year.

The early election meant a shorter time frame to gain name recognition and raise money—even though any members of the state delegation or state Legislature wouldn't have to give up their current seat to run.

Mr. Christie could have appointed someone who would run in the fall, but that person would barely be able to spend any time in Washington because of the fundraising and campaigning that would need to take place over the summer, Mr. Murray said.

Mr. Christie defended his decisions, including the short time frame—less than a week—he gave candidates to get the 1,000 signatures needed to get on the ballot. "You don't have that good organization behind you, you think it's hard to get a thousand signatures, wait until you try to get a million votes," he said.

Of the Republican candidates, he said: "I will make my evaluation of the field once the field is set."

Mr. Christie said he has a better relationship with Mr. Lonegan now than during their bitter 2009 gubernatorial primary. "We've agreed on much more than we've disagreed on since I've been in office," he said.

Mr. Lonegan announced his candidacy in front of his Bogota, N.J., home alongside his wife, Lorraine, and a few supporters. He said his Democratic opponents would only be "rubber stamps for Barack Obama." Mr. Lonegan said he had already raised $50,000, and he aimed to raise $500,000 for the primary and $10 million for the general election. "My goal is to come out hard, resolute and to clear the field," he said.

Mr. Lonegan gained one significant endorsement on Friday: Bergen County GOP Chairman Bob Yudin. Mr. Yudin said it was too soon to say whether Mr. Lonegan would win but said he would be a supporter of Israel.

Mr. Lonegan has "been active in Bergen County politics for many years," Mr. Yudin said. "I'm delighted to endorse him."

Republican leaders said they were still hoping an out-of-the-box candidate would emerge. The outcome was also less predictable because of the low turnout expected on the date of the general special election, which will be a Wednesday.

"We could have an October surprise, you never know," said George Gilmore, Ocean County Republican Party chairman.

Republicans said they were looking forward to the three-way Democratic primary.

Mr. Booker would do best with wealthy New Jerseyans and black voters, while Reps. Holt and Pallone would likely fight for the same voters, analysts said. A spokesman for Mr. Pallone declined to comment. Mr. Booker's aides didn't respond to messages.

"No matter who the Democrats pick they have somebody who has money and an organization to compete," Mr. Hale said.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.